Grüne on finance and taxes

The Greens stand by the debt brake because, in their view, Bremen has seen how a heavy debt burden shrinks room to act. For investments in climate neutrality and sustainability, they still want to borrow within narrow limits and reach agreement on this with the federal government and the other states. They reject selling public property.

The Greens want to keep the debt brake. That is a rule against too much new debt. They still want to borrow some money for climate protection. The federal government and the other states should agree to this. Bremen should not sell public property.

The borrowing must not put at risk the federal restructuring aid of 400 million euros a year. It is meant to let the state and the city pay for measures that keep to the Paris climate goal. The party wants to make taxes and charges fair and close tax loopholes. Tax fraud is to be tackled firmly. In the platform's view, selling public property for quick revenue shifts costs into the future.

The Greens want to push in the Bundesrat for heavier taxation of very large fortunes, financial gains, and large inheritances, and for tougher action against tax evasion. According to the platform, financial gains are currently taxed less than work, and the very rich should contribute more to the community.

The Greens want very rich people to pay more taxes. This applies to large fortunes, large inheritances, and gains from investments. People who cheat on taxes should be caught more often. Tax offices should be well equipped for this.

At the European level, the Greens want to introduce a windfall profits tax; in their view a European financial transaction tax can help stabilize financial markets. The platform supports buying CDs with insider tax data from foreign banks and rules that stop bank secrecy from shielding tax fraud. Large companies in particular are to be audited more often, which requires a well-equipped tax administration. On property tax reform, the Greens stand by the model Bremen has chosen; overall revenue is to stay the same.

The Greens want to pay for the climate goals set by Bremen's climate inquiry commission with federal and third-party funds and, under certain conditions, also use an exception to the Schuldenbremse (debt brake). The platform says the state budget alone cannot cover this at the necessary pace.

Climate protection costs a lot of money. The Greens say Bremen's budget is not enough for it. They want to get money from the federal government and other sources. Under certain conditions, they also want to allow new debt.

The platform justifies the funding need by arguing that failing to act would later be even more expensive and life-threatening. The Greens want to secure federal money and rely more on third-party funds. A regulated exception to the debt brake is to be used only if it does not endanger the restructuring payments Bremen receives. As an example of such an exception, the platform points to the Bremen-Fonds from the Covid period, whose 1.2 billion euros are to be repaid over 30 years.